hi !! i see some excellent advice on this forum...to the long list of questions, i would like to pose one myself...any help is deeply appreciated.. i am a chemical engineer and have about 8-9 months of work experience, i appeared in cat 9 and cat 10 as well...and scored 97 and 99 %iles respectively, but unfortunately had no calls whatsoever, due to a low score in DI section...and have absolutely no intentions of appearing again.. I applied for masters in management and have offers from imperial business school and cass business school as well for msc management. my intention of going for this course is that I wish to transform/change my career path. I am pretty sure of the reasons due to which i am applying for this degree...but a greater dilemma faces me...i am confused between which univ to choose/reject. imperial has a greater pedigree as brand name, but cass has a better Bschool and course structure, while imperial BS name on my resume would be impressive and would help me to get some interviews, Cass BS has a better course content. can any1 plz help me out with this dilemma. looking forward to your thoughts as well Mr.baccardisprite...thanks :)
Good to see you're sure of your reasons to apply to the aforementioned UK schools. Both the schools are well known for different reasons. Imperial made its name through its Engineering & Medical Schools, while Cass of City U London is known as an excellent school for finance & related programs. Both the Business Schools are located in London and are treated on par in terms of quality (half-a-notch below LBS, Ox, Cam and Cranfield). Your Degree from Imperial is likely to say "University of London", while your Degree from Cass is "City University of London". The former is better known therefore has a marginally better brand effect on your CV. As for Quality of education, I don't think you'll see much difference except perhaps somewhat more focussed finance education in Cass.
However, the brand on your CV itself means little. You didn't mention it, but hopefully you've charted your career path (the what's, why's & how's) based on the statement that you're sure of your reasons to apply.
Have you spoken to current students and alumni of each program to understand their experiences on the job search? Have you had a chance to speak with the Career Services Offices in both schools? Have you asked them specific questions as to how they train their students towards the job-search? What are the tools & opportunities provided within the school's activities (networking with companies / alumni, job fairs college & university specific, job fairs and sessions for Masters grads, company presentations and networking events on campus / sponsored etc.)? In any of the school facilitated activities just mentioned, do the recruiters you want to join figure anywhere? Example - you want to join an ops consultant - do the job search events facilitated by the school include the opns consultants like Accenture, Deloitte's etc??? What are the specific skills the careers office will impart to you (CV writing, communications, networking, interviewing and presentation skills, searching for jobs off-campus etc..)???? These are things you need to find out.
Follow a diligent process of information and insight gathering and take a measured, risk aware (not risk averse) decision.
Hi Baccardisprite, What are your thoughts about MICA.I have an offer and I'm inclined to join, but in terms of the brand name of the college, do you think its good enough to have it as my last degree? I know I wanna take up marketing(brand management) only and what MICA offers is exactly what I want,but would it be advisable to wait a year and try to get into FMS/IIMs? or is it as good as the IIMs?
We could split strands of hair for a minute - Marketing / Brand Management is "slightly" different to what (I believe) MICA should intend to deliver - which is skills in the field of Strategic / Tactical / Sensible / Sensitive Communication; sub-sets of which are: Brand related, People related (so HR is a possibility), advertizing and creativity related or corporate (investor relations, CSR etc) - in various modes, print or electronic.
The career possibilities are wider, than both students and recruiters previously gave the school credit for, namely narrowly viewing it as an advertizing school (back in 1995-96 when it first made its name). That has changed as the school has expanded its program and practical offerings, and has drawn recruiters over & beyond the ad agencies it tended to exclusively draw earlier. All in all an excellent school for skills and education in the aforementioned areas.
You are putting yourself into a fairly specialist functional bucket at an early age. It has its advantage in that you build a functional skill which is highly applicable, valuable and transferable across a wide range of industries. If that's acceptable to you, I think over the medium to long term, you should have an excellent career. Don't worry about the IIMs/FMs debate.... over a 10-15 year period, your professional skills would count for way more than where you studied.
Hope that answers your questions All the best Baccardisprite
Hi BaccardiSprite, Thanks a lot for your time and generosity to share information! I have been reading this thread from past 1 yr but never posted anything. I am currently working in Bangalore as a Business Analyst with an IT services company. On academic front I have studied BE and Post Graduation Certificate in International Business (This was not like a complete formal Masters Degree). My interest lies in studying and learning more about management, but I don't wish to quit my job. I even plan to pursue a PhD in the long run and work in the academics while I am working. I always try to imagine a system that exist in US where one can attend school in the evenings, for just 2 to 3 days a week and complete graduation without essentially quitting job. And later on even pursue doctorate in similar fashion. Based on my need, I thought of studying while I am working, but I end up with no good options. All the correspondence and part time programs in India are not valued by industry (conclusion based on limited research).
I need your help to figure out a way to work around this problem and still achieve the objective of studying and gaining that academic exposure by being in the industry. What are your views, if you are aware, about MS programs offered by BITS Pilani? There is a program called MS Consultancy Management by BITS that suits my needs. These are called work integrated programs and are conducted across all major cities in India. Besides BITS do you have any other suggestions?
1 I have completed my BBA from Panjab University, I have no dood Job oppurtunities in Hand except IBM Daksh, I Heard Masters degree is good and would increase my job prospectives, i am thinking of doing masters from lancaster and then pursue job in uk or canada, atleast i will get tag of good university.
2 My long term Goal is to Start my own Business, But before That I would Like to enter in a marketing field or in strategic consulting job.
3 I am asking these questions after I got offers because someone told me Uk is still going thru recession and it is very difficult to get job there, but i was thinking will it be viable and good option to go to usa or canada after doing ms from uk with tag of good university ( Lancaster).
My other option is to do MBA fro amity university Noida is it good? Please guide me what should I do For My future..!!
Profile: Btech Mechanical 3 yrs work-ex in HPCL in Operations
One is Cass Bussiness School, London offering MSc in supply chain, trade and finance and other u told me earlier about DMP program (NUS and GATECH). I just wish to know which program is better with respect to career in supply chain and please if u can enlighten me about job opportunities for both.
Hi BaccardiSprite, Thanks a lot for your time and generosity to share information! I have been reading this thread from past 1 yr but never posted anything. I am currently working in Bangalore as a Business Analyst with an IT services company. On academic front I have studied BE and Post Graduation Certificate in International Business (This was not like a complete formal Masters Degree). My interest lies in studying and learning more about management, but I don't wish to quit my job. I even plan to pursue a PhD in the long run and work in the academics while I am working. I always try to imagine a system that exist in US where one can attend school in the evenings, for just 2 to 3 days a week and complete graduation without essentially quitting job. And later on even pursue doctorate in similar fashion. Based on my need, I thought of studying while I am working, but I end up with no good options. All the correspondence and part time programs in India are not valued by industry (conclusion based on limited research).
I need your help to figure out a way to work around this problem and still achieve the objective of studying and gaining that academic exposure by being in the industry. What are your views, if you are aware, about MS programs offered by BITS Pilani? There is a program called MS Consultancy Management by BITS that suits my needs. These are called work integrated programs and are conducted across all major cities in India. Besides BITS do you have any other suggestions?
Thanks, Itzbizguy
No not aware. I admire the desire to build a career at an early age. Yet if the thirst to continue studying is strong and your motivation is good - try doing the ICWAI CWA Program. It might sound like finance and accounting, but it's as good as a business education (check out the professional syllabus and academic pattern in ICWAI). It will take you a good 3 years, but the bright side is, you might be able to skip some of the computing & computer usage modules due to your engineering degree and ITES experience. You will gain a well respective business / finance qualification that will help across any functional area you want to get into going forward.
You cannot "study" consultancy. Consulting is completely experiential in its learning.
IF you want to get into academics as a profession through a Ph.D, note that the Ph.D is a highly research intensive process, and you will spend long hour working, studying and researching alone. So an ICWAI attunes you to the long and generally lonely hours.
Second - getting into a top Ph.D program (In India offered by the IIMs), you might want to start in about 3-4 years from now thinking about an area that you want to truly research. Being in ITES + doing a CWA, you might want to think about research in technology & finance, or financial reporting systems etc.... Just examples, but a top Ph.D is quite challenging - both to get in and to complete (5-6 years is not uncommon).... takes some planning.... find out by doing the ICWA (or something similar) whether you have the motivation and staying power to complete.
1 I have completed my BBA from Panjab University, I have no dood Job oppurtunities in Hand except IBM Daksh, I Heard Masters degree is good and would increase my job prospectives, i am thinking of doing masters from lancaster and then pursue job in uk or canada, atleast i will get tag of good university.
2 My long term Goal is to Start my own Business, But before That I would Like to enter in a marketing field or in strategic consulting job.
3 I am asking these questions after I got offers because someone told me Uk is still going thru recession and it is very difficult to get job there, but i was thinking will it be viable and good option to go to usa or canada after doing ms from uk with tag of good university ( Lancaster).
My other option is to do MBA fro amity university Noida is it good? Please guide me what should I do For My future..!!
Some more feedback and questions below, which might sound harsh and irritating, but am trying to encourage a thought process :-).
1. What's wrong with IBM Daksh? Genuine company that will pay you a salary to do good work. Have you tried getting other jobs or are you simply treating education as a way to escape the current job search? Secondly - please look at the posts earlier in this thread where I addressed some questions to Surabhi M. The same questions apply to you. Think those over and post again.
2. Suggest you either try and get a marketing / consulting or client interfacing job now (apply for one and try) or attempt the CAT / XAT, get into a top Indian school - IIMs, FMS, JB, SP Jain, MDI, IMT, BIM, NMIMS and get a marketing job with a good company and embark on a marketing career. Simply going abroad into an environment of which you have no cultural understanding is unlikely to help you reach your objective. Marketing or similarly client interactive or customer analytic / research intensive environment is ideal early preparation for a career in consulting. Some years down the line, you'll have an idea of what your own company is likely to do; and you'll have the skill to start, build, sustain and grow your business. It comes with hard skills gained with sweat, endurance and staying power.
3. You're right about the UK having just come out of a recession. Exactly the reason why '000s of unemployed / underemployed graduates will be searching and will be far easier to employ than yourself. As for Canada, what makes you think finding a job in Canada will be easier with no experience and same rules of competition (local canadian educated youngsters) apply?
You seem to lack a strategy to achieve your career goal. Merely going for a Masters in the UK is not a strategy.
Think.... come back and post again if you need guidance.
Profile: Btech Mechanical 3 yrs work-ex in HPCL in Operations
One is Cass Bussiness School, London offering MSc in supply chain, trade and finance and other u told me earlier about DMP program (NUS and GATECH). I just wish to know which program is better with respect to career in supply chain and please if u can enlighten me about job opportunities for both.
Thanks
Sorry for delayed response.
It's a tough choice actually, and would depend on your definition of a supply chain career. Singapore's location as a trading & logistics hub in an economically hot region would make DMP the better choice. Add to the fact that you can get a scholarship from a sponsor company (in return, you need to work for that company for 3 years post the Masters) which is a pretty cool deal. IF you end up liking Singapore or the region, these countries are more welcoming of skilled talent and it's less difficult to get work permits etc....
The Cass program is focused on a combination of Supply Chain in the trading business (meaning - agriculture, mining, metals, commodities like crude etc.) and the associated financial issues. So you probably have a "slightly" wider scope in terms of industry - you could work for the commodity trading arm of a bank / financial institution, a supply chain function in a major logistics and supply chain dependent company like metals, mining, engineering or manufacturing or a quasi-financial function. Challenge in the UK/EU is of course finding an employer willing to sponsor your work permit. It's actually quite difficult with new UK rules (which by the way keep changing). The UK & EU are currently nowhere near as dynamic as the Asian economies and both careers pay roughly the same.
If you want a career in the Operational Supply Chain of a corporate major, I'd go with the GATECH / NUS DMP.... and try swinging a scholarship, a guaranteed job for 3 years and near certain career after.
I am 25 years old and this is the story of my life till date.
After my 12th standard I did nothing for two years, I was depressed because my mother was ill and also because I was thinking about a career in Medicine. Later, I joined the University of Mumbai for a Degree in Management but unfortunately got a KT in my final semester, the only one in three years. which I cleared in my third attempt. My score is like this, 80% in 10TH, 70% in 12th, and 61 % in BMS. Immediately, after I gave my final exams, I started working in a finance KPO, but didn't want to do the graveyard shift hence quit after 5 months when I developed health problems. (Was hospitalised for 10 days). After that I studied for a Govt. exam, which I couldn't clear because I wasn't motivated enough. (Spent 6 months there). Later, I did a project with a FMCG firm for 3 months, (I call it a project because I did branding, designed a brochure, wrote content for a website, designed flyers and did online marketing for him, but only for three months) but had to leave because the owner of the firm told me he didn't have a full time position. I am currently working in HR in Business Development and have been at my current job for the past 10 months, Its an entrepreneurial firm, a small but efficiently run business. I have completed a certificate course in an European language and a course in computers sponsored by the Maharashtra govt (MSCIT). I gave MHCET 2011 and scored 98.5 percentile, but I'm am confident that I can do much better next year with God's grace and hard work. Career wise, I don't want to continue in Sales but intend to specialise in marketing when I get into a MBA. Now that my mind is finally free of cob webs and am staring reality in the face, I am angry with myself for letting go in my youth and have lots of regrets. I can't speak to anyone about my past because I'm afraid of the repercussions. I realise, a lot of damage has been done already and want to salvage my future and get back on track with a high paying job. Pls advice me on what I should tell interview panels/inquisitive people, curious about my past. How should I tackle the dark spots on my CV? What should be my next course of action ? Any courses that I should pursue?? I have big dreams, HBS, LSE...
Hey Top 10-15 univ in US co-sign your loan. You don't need to put any collateral. So no tension in that case. Moreover finding a job is also not a prob incase u r in top 10 :) And if ever any Indian goes to a school of rank around 30 in US, he goes with a scholarship in most of the cases. No one spends 80 lakhs without a back up 😃
^ That does not hold true for the umpteen number of 1 year Master's degrees LSE offers, except maybe MSc Fin, Fin & Econ, which have established track records of placement. Acc & Fin closely follows. I know pretty mediocre people who got into random programs at LSE, and ended up jobless.
@v2013: and yet ive heard horror stories of ppl frm their extremely celebrated fin programs not evn gettin jobs!!!(rite now).my frnd,(a msc fin grad and a topper there), is coming back to india after several failed attempts at gettin a job...and its esp tough for intntnl students..ur a brit citizen..so as bacardi says..things may work diff for u..btw..hav u evr stopped to consider that statistically(and otherwise) its much tougher to make it to an imt level school here than LSE? i remeber sending a pretty crap app to LSE and yet making it...whereas for imt I had to bust my ass for the cat..get a >96%ile and then make a gud impression in the i/v! and as for returns..atleast in my case...1)go to LSE aftr blowing 22lacs of my parents money for a 1yr course..try to get a job and fail..not bcos of ineptitude but bcos im an intntl student and bcos of their bust economy..come back to india where my degree isnt evn recg! 2)Go to imt for less than half the tuition, interact with several intelligent ppl from some of the top undergrad schools here, get immense value add and a great job to boot ideally paying me >9 lac if I do well there and>7 lac if i do crap there:). Btw, both of my frnds only went to lse for their msc fin course bcos they got in their 80%iles in cat! one of them had a 600 smthng on the gmat! Actually i recall u posting somewhere whether it wud be worth joining lse or taking a gap yr forXL/FMS. mayb I shud put the link here;). Ur rite! I cant evn believe i began to compare LSE to IMT..wen imt(atleast acc to me) is way superior in every way except for the brand name! my bad:)
ok then i think i can fairly assess why only 1 indian student out of the several from their various fin programs got a job. i guess its bcos the rest of them were uncivilized barbarians and only she had social skills. the iit-iim grad with 3yrs of work-ex behind him already....it wsnt the economy or the fact that he was intntl...it was bcos he probly forgot to wish his prospective employers in the interviews or something! as for the right"balance" of talent at the top schools..i dont think there is much diff bw a 97 and a 99%iler except for how they performed on that particular day and in those 2particular hrs! luck does play a big role in the indian entrances..esp in this bizzare online format...and i knw ppl with ridiculously lame acads who are seriously big bankers now...as for never having the chance to be at the top unless ur from an iim...it just shows ur confidence(rather the lack of it)...but i guess u can just sit on ur cushy nri ass telling us which b-school to go to and which to avoid bcos u mite get ur employment yet from ur beloved lse(no crazy visa rules for you!)(unless ofcourse u lack social skills;))
dude y dont u understand dat things r diff for eu and non eu students esp aftr the recession? i trust u understand dat wen im choosing imt-g ovr lse, its a v.informed decision...aftr talkin to several ppl.. inc da current indian students there..and i am not questioning lse's quality of edu or its global standing or its rep.(all of which are stellar)..but wat is going to work for me and my career goals! anyway ive already wasted plenty of time on this(something i can ill-afford) and i am not going to go over all of this again with u!(cos i already hav when i was trying to arrive at a choice)! gud luck for ur future endeavours and give gadaffi a kick for me if he comes to give a talk at lse again;)(altho thats near impossible now) cheers.
I understand you concern here...But i found that your paramenter for comparing IMT and LSE was just the placement(which i agree is very important). But don't you think there are humpty number of other factors people opt for an managment degree? I believe the diversity, international exposture, infrastructure, recognition of LSE degree is far better compared to the likes of IMT...But it's individuals decision at the end of the day, what they what from their MBA...If one is having very less ex and is probably earning like 3-3.5 p.a, going for IMT would be the ideal choice...here again, i know people who after doing their pgdm in India, go for EMBA after few more years of work-ex...But for those who wanna make it to biggies like McK, BCG, Bain i'm afraid IMT degree doesn't stand much value
This is not a place for you to be arguing IMT versus LSE. If you want to do that, do it in a separate thread. Please keep this thread for applicants and their queries. The next person to bring this up gets Banned.
@v2013 : Those posters look sweet. Are you an LSE student? I'm a potential applicant to LSE, and honestly placements were a concern, but those posters make me think otherwise. I have no plans of sticking to the EU post LSE, dubai/sg/hk will do just as well (not India though). Could you offer some more insight into placements of MSc Fin/Fin & Econ?
Thank you baccardisprite for telling me the true scenario, now talking about Ibm Daksh Its a Bpo Job for 1yr.,
I did applied for other Jobs In consulting, Marketing through internet But all of them require work experience.
Protiviti consulting came in our college and I cleared the 3 rounds of the selection process, ans it has been two months and they are still not replying further, our placement coordinater is not at all worried about it, I mailed them they are not replying back.
Now I am Confuse Should I join Amity Or IBM Daksh, Perasonally Tell me what do you think about amity.
And talking about lancaster , Its a good College I will get Global Exposure . A stamp on my cv Of good University Good Education
After that I was Thing Of Working In Country Where I get More Job Oppurtunities Like USA
Thanks for the insight. I was aware that university brand just gets you an i/v call and its kind of upto you after that. This is proved by the fact that some of the most successful people in finance do not even hold degrees in Finance/Econ - Thiel, Soros, et al.
Honestly, that is what scares me. I'm barely upper middle class, and to make that big an investment without biting my nails till I get a job, i need SOME guarantee atleast. I'd really appreciate if you could share your research with us. Requesting an in depth post :)
However, I prefer Acc & Fin's structure compared to Fin & Econ - better electives, IMO, but I've heard Fin & Econ holds more value during placements.
